Is there any question in anyone’s mind that having an apostle of the Lord visit our mission is one of the Miracles of February?
Elder Holland shared with me that he was very impressed with each of you. Your singing of “Hark, All Ye Nations” as Elder and Sister Holland, Elder and Sister Wilson, and Elder and Sister Hallstrom entered the Cultural Hall where you were assembled touched each of them deeply. You heard how Elder Wilson mentioned your singing brought tears to his eyes. You were an impressive sight.
Many thanks to each of you who arrived on time, waited patiently to sing and then have your picture taken. Everything went off without a hitch, and Elder Holland commended each of you for how you acted and performed.
I know that each of you felt their Spirit as you shook the hands of these General Authorities and their wives. They commented on how appropriately you conducted yourselves and the mighty spirit they felt from you.
It was impressive to see all you rise as these great men and their wives entered the chapel and took their seats on the stand.
The Mission Conference started a little later due to no fault of ours, and originally, Elder Holland intended to finish the meeting at 8:00 p.m. as originally planned. I sent him a note in the middle of the meeting asking him to stay as long as the Spirit directed because I knew that each of our missionaries wanted to be fed by him. I know that he could feel your desires as I plead on your behalf, and as he handed the note to his wife, I saw some tears come to his eyes. As you know, he stayed to 8:30 to feed you.
And I know you were not disappointed.
I know that you will never forget the testimonies of Elder and Sister Wilson and Elder and Sister Hallstrom as they testified about the nature of Elder Holland’s apostolic calling.
I know that you will always remember the sweet testimony of Sister Holland and her declaration to you that “you are the greatest miracle” even “greater than the parting of the Red Sea.”
And I know that the words of Elder Holland, spoken directly to you, individually and collectively, will be forever engraved upon your hearts. Many of you were taught by his words, but as I watched your faces and the tears streaming from your eyes, I know that many of you were taught even more by the Spirit that he brought and what you felt.
Here are a few things I wrote in my notes concerning Elder Holland’s remarks. I know that many of you have much, much more:
· “We only send the world’s best to Taiwan.”
· “We didn’t get up this morning and decide to come here and share a fairy tale.”
· In 24 months of his mission, everything was “turned upside down—or right side up” and he said, “I want that for you.”
· “Don’t you ever leave anything to carry off the field.”
· “Don’t go home with any regrets.”
· “I want you for the rest of your life to feel like I did about my mission.”
· “This is real life. You will never come closer to real life than right here.”
· “You are on an ascending curve.”
· “Everything you want for your investigators, He wants for you.”
· “You’ve got to be a little more persistent” and “not obnoxious but bold.”
· “A ‘Preach My Gospel’ missionary is so in tune with the Spirit they can teach what they need to teach…”
· “’Preach My Gospel’ says missionaries are to go to the people. We are going to find them where they are and take them from the Sacred Grove to the Garden of Gethsemane.”
· “When we shake your hands we interview you.”
· “I think this [Taiwan Taipei] mission is poised for the hastening of the work.”
· “Why is this so hard?….Because salvation is not a cheap experience.”
· “God never intended a mission to be easy.”
· “It cannot be easy for you because it was never easy for Him.”
· “A little bit of your mission must be spent lugging a cross.”
· “The road to salvation goes through the Garden of Gethsemane.”
· “Don’t think you’re going to have a picnic in Taiwan.”
· “You have to sign on for the whole experience.”
· “Don’t spend time wondering why your mission is hard.”
· “You are being shaped and molded into disciples of Christ.”
· “Difficulties will make you more like the Son of God.”
· “Your family has you on a pedestal.”
· Next to possibly General Authorities, “you are the most prayed over group in the Church”
· “Everyone wants their children to grow up and be just like you.”
· “We’ll absolutely change the world.”
Take these words and ponder them.
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